Veterans get help navigating college from VetCorps Navigator

For many of veterans, attending college can be a major adjustment from military service and accessing critical services and resources can sometimes be challenging. That is where Seattle Central’s VetCorps Navigator comes in. This year’s navigator, Will Schwab, is available to help ease the transition to academic and civilian life for veterans on campus.

Will, who joined the Army as an Infantryman in 2006, understands firsthand the difficulty this transition presents to many veterans. “After four and a half years on Active Duty I was discharged and struggled to find my place in what seemed to now be a foreign society,” Will said. “I decided to use the skills I learned to help people, and I have found that helping Veterans is what truly brings me joy.”

VetCorps, an AmeriCorps funded program, provides colleges with a “navigator” to help veterans in areas where they need additional support. At Seattle Central, the VetCorps Navigator helps student veterans with everything from registration to educational planning, including how to apply credits earned in the service to degrees at the college. The navigator also connects veterans with resources such as Veterans Affairs benefits and Department of Defense tuition programs, as well as assistance for housing, transportation and medical assistance. “I am eager to assist any Veteran as I know firsthand how hard it is to readjust and find necessary resources,” said Will.

Veterans attending Seattle Central are encouraged to contact Will via email or visit his office in BE 3204 to get access to veteran-related resources and services available. Students can also visit the Veterans Services website to learn more about financial assistance, services, the student lounge, the Student Veterans Association and other resources.